By CONOR NICHOLL

cnicholl@dailynews.net

Otis-Bison prep football coach Travis Starr always believed the Cougars could throw the football effectively. However, in 2008, quarterback Kevin Wissman completed just 29-of-65 passes for 297 yards with four touchdowns against two interceptions. With the one-dimensional offense, Otis-Bison finished 2-7.

"Before I told people, we had a heck of a passing attack," Starr said. "We just couldn't catch the dang ball. That's how it was last year. He could always throw it pretty well and could scramble well, but we couldn't find anybody to catch the dang ball for us."

Everything has changed for the Cougars this fall. Wissman, who missed the first three games last year with a shoulder injury, is healthy and a better passer than in past seasons. Junior Dominic Trapp and junior Jake Crotinger have developed as receivers. Otis-Bison still relies heavily on the run, but the passing attack ranks as one of eight-man's bests.

"Now, Trapp is a really good receiver for us, and we find some younger kids out there on the outside that have been able to catch the ball for us, too," Starr said. "If you can do that, gives us at least part of a threat, makes our running game a heck of a lot better."

Otis-Bison's improved offense has yielded 542 points, the most in Kansas, regardless of classification. The Cougars finished the regular season with a 9-0 mark, the state's biggest turnaround, and carry a No. 2 ranking into the Eight-Man, Division II playoffs.

The Cougars, in the postseason for the first time since 2003 and the third time since 1995, will play host to Sharon Springs (7-2) on Tuesday in a 6 p.m. kickoff.

Wissman, now a senior, junior running back Mike Hlavaty, freshman Dylan Wissman and an offensive line that includes senior Matt Suppes and juniors Robert Kolas and Josh Krom have tallied at least 44 points in every game.

"I think their offensive line is really, really good. The Krom kid coming back (from injury), he is a big athletic body," Victoria coach Doug Oberle said. "They are not having to make moves on people until they get to that second and third level. Their front is doing a great job."

Wissman has accounted for 40 touchdowns and 1,822 total yards (941 rushing), while Hlavaty has collected 860 yards rushing after he rushed for 929 last season.

"He is unbelievably quick, he has great vision," Sharon Springs coach Kevin Ayers said of Wissman. "To see him tackled in the open field one-on-one, you just don't see. ... Everything you coach your kids on a week-to-week basis is just magnified when you go up against a player of his caliber."

"Definitely the best playmaker we have seen all year," Oberle said.

The passing game, though, has seen a big improvement. Wissman is 21-of-34 for 356 yards and nine touchdowns against two interceptions.

Wissman's completion percentage of 61.7 ranks seventh among Kansas eight-man teams, according to MaxPreps.com. His 10.47 yards per attempt stands fourth; the leader is Udall senior Skylar Kistler at 11.96.

"They haven't had to pass a lot, but when the time comes, they are very capable of putting the ball in the air," Ayers said. "He has a nice touch, strong arm. He is a guy that is going to buy himself time and give his receivers plenty of time to get open, so that is definitely a major concern for us."

Freshman Trevor Keller has performed well in spot duty, going 6-of-14 for 80 yards and four touchdowns. Trapp is the leading receiver with 12 catches for 202 yards and five scores.

"Knowing the game, that is a real big help," Trapp said. "Knowing where to cut, be open. Me and Kevin are pretty smart. and we know where to go and where each other is going to be at, so it's hard on the defenders to catch up."

Against top teams, the Cougars have effectively utilized the passing game. In Week 3, a 44-38 double overtime road victory against powerhouse Macksville, Wissman tossed a 5-yard pass to Trapp for the winning score, one of two TD passes in the game.

Versus Victoria in Week 8, then undefeated and ranked No. 1, Wissman completed just one pass, but it was a 32-yard rocket to Crotinger on the final play of the first half for a 44-6 lead. The Cougars went on to win 72-26.

"Just slung it out there," Wissman said. "He made the play."

On Thursday, Wissman and Keller combined for 126 yards passing and two scores in a 64-14 win versus Logan.

"He is a good player, so that is a big help," Trapp said. "When I'm open, he will get me the ball. If I'm not, he will even get it in there in those tight spots."

The 6-foot-1, 190-pound Wissman is a four-year starter on both sides of the ball and has been one of the area's best players three years running. However, as a sophomore, he picked up 743 total yards, but less than 300 through the air. In 2008, Wissman earned first team all-Central Prairie League at wingback -- not at quarterback -- after averaging 7.3 yards a carry. This fall, Wissman has better touch, a trait that Starr says "is the biggest thing he has improved on." Wissman worked on his passing often during the summer.

"When he came in as a freshman, you just knew the kid had a cannon for an arm, but everything would just be a laser," Starr said. "When you don't have very good receivers, you kind of have got to take a little bit off of them. But now, he can throw it how he wants. Now he understands the times he needs touch on it and the times he needs to be in there pretty fast. ... That has made him real good this year."

In addition, Wissman has had help from his receivers, especially Trapp. The Cougars' offense has set routes for the wideouts.

"Most of the time I go close to that, but also I am reading the defense, so I will cut it shorter or go longer, whatever to make an easy pass for Kevin," Trapp said.

Against Macksville, Trapp's intelligence paid off again. He noticed Macksville, now 7-2 and ranked in Eight-Man, Division I, ran a two-safety coverage and would usually dropped their linebackers back. With the game tied at 38, Trapp cut his route close and made sure he was near the goal line.

"Try and sit in between the linebacker and the corner and Kevin just got it to me quick right out of my break," he said. "That was a good accomplishment. I knew I would catch it."